Means for producing air-currents.



PATBNTED APR. 3, 190B.

B. A. S'IWB. MEANSIR PRODUGING AIR CURRBNTS.

APPLICATION TILED IHNEN. 1903.

4 SHEETS-SHEET l! No. 816,759. PATENTBD APR. s, 1906.

B. A. STOWE.

MENS avenuoms AIR QUEENS.

APPLITIUN FILED JUNE 27, 1903,

SHEETS-SHEET 24 /N vfw T0 PATENTED APR. 8, 1906.

B. A. STWE.

MEANS FOR PRGDUCING AIR CURRENT Aremculw fuma JUNE 21. ww

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MTA/russ,

No. $316,759v PATENTES APRS, 1905 B. A. STUWE.

MEANS POR PRDUGING AIR C'URRENTS.

I'PLIUTiON FILED JUNE27, lQQBA 4 SHEETS--SHEBT 4,

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UNITED sirnjins ,PATENT OFFICE.

BERNARD A. STOVVE, OF CLEVELAND, OHIO` ASSIGNOR TO THE JANDUS ELECTRU COMPANY, OF CLEVELAND, OHIO, A COR- PORATION OF OHIO.

MEANS Fon PRODUCING Ain-.conociera Specification of Letters Patent Patented April 3, 190B.

Application led June 2'?, 1903. Serial No, 163.423.

A herein exp ained and the best mode in whic Iii) I lisve contemplated a plying that principle, so as to distinguish it rom other inventions.

My invention relates to means for producing air-currents, and particularly to rotatoryV fans errangedto automatically revolve about anaxis, so as to continuall f chan e the direction of the air-current produced thereby reletivelyr to a fixed Dlane.

`The object of said invention is to produceA means for such described urpose which will allow oi a wider range ofp variation in ysuch change of direction; and the invention consists of means hereinafterfully described, and perticularl set forth in the claims.

The annexe drawings and the following description set forth in detail certain mechanism embodying 'the invention, such disclosed means constitutin but one of various mechanical forms in which the principle of the invention may be used.

In said annexed drawings, Figure I represents an elevational view of a combination illustrating an aircurrent-producing structure embodying in yinvention, showin a portion of the revolving fan support or racket in vertical axial section; Fig. II represents a plan view o'f such fan-support, partlyv in horizontal section, showing also the fans and n fan-motors in dotted lines, parts being ornitteil. Fi .III represents a horizontal sectional view of the 'said revolving bracket, taken upon' the planes indicated by lines 3 3, Fig. I, a portion of two oscillator brakearms connected therewith bein s own Lin plan. Fig. IV represents a vertice transverse axial section of one ot two duplicate motorrames embodedin my said invention, Atogather with a section of the bracket-arm upon which such motor-frame is mounted. Fig. V' represents a side. elevation of one of said two duplicate motor-frames, showin a ortion thereof in vertical axial section, VII represent detail views of parte of said structure. Fig. VIIIrepresents a plan viewof lgs. l and said structure, showing the relative positionof the axes of the motors and rotatable bracket@ support when in one of the normal positions. Figs. IX and X re resent diagrammatic views of the scheme otpwiring utilized in seid combination structure. Fi XI represents a iront elevation of a modi ed fan structure embodying my said invention, showing the supporting-standard in section. Fi XII ture.

Referring to the structure shown in Figs. I and Il., a do .ending supportin -rod A is provided, whic will hereinafter e assumed to be fined in contradistinction to bein rotary or revoluble, though it may depen. roin'a oordV or chain which will allow a limited amount oi oscillation. The lower end of this supporting-rod is threaded and has screwed upon it a sleeve a, whose upper portion is cupped, as shown, and su ports a ball-race cup a', holding balls o2. pon these balls is supported a bracket B, whose upper or guid- -ing portion is formed with'a cross-piece b, iprovided with a central aperture b', countersunk et its lower end to receive a ball-cone b2, `whieh rests upon the balls c", as shown, the .rod A extending thro h such cone. The upar -forrned upon a sleeve c, screwed upon the rod A, the latter being 'provided with suitable threads for such purpose. As illustrated, rod A is made in two sections, the lower end oi theunper and the upper end of the lower being Yscrewed into the upper and lower ends of the sleeve a4, such construction offering greater facility to the assembling of the parts. A set-screw t is provided in the said u per bracket end, which may be caused to bind upon jlournal a, and so fix the bracket and rod re atively to each other when required.l This set-screw, however, is not ordinarily used and in so far as the invention is concerned forms a superfluous element. The construction of the bracket in other respects is suc-li as to permit it to turn reelyu on the balls about the axis of the depen ng rod A as an axis of rotation. In order to Wsnes# intersecting themovable bodies theml-'selves as axes of rotation and to axes :falling Without the bodies themselves as represents a plan view of such modifier strucper end of' the bracket 1s formed with a circu-Y f bearing which turns upon s. journal a3, Y

'avoid confusion, I shall -hereinater reler to y ,tor

axes of revolution. The lower portion of the bracket is provided with two laterallycxtending arms B B, preferably on opposite sides of the rod and having their axes distant from each other one hundred and eighty degrees. These arms and all parts connected therewith are cfa length and weight such as to distribute the elements in equal parts upon diainetrically opposite sides ofV the axis of the rod A, and so balance the entire structure to facilitate its rotation, as will be readily undi-wstood. Each of these arms includes an oscillatory arm B2, Figs. I,`II, III, and VI, which is pivotcil upon a bolt 6*, supported upon [he portion of the arm integral with or fixed n tzu. bracket, as shown in Fig. IV, each such urin llaviig a plane of oscillation intersecting u plane of rotation of the bracket. 'lhe said :ii-nis, including the oscillatory members, are preferably made tubular, as shown, to obtain a structure of least possible weight consistent with the required strength. The inner end of each such oscillatory arm B2 is provided with an extension b5, upon which is secured a Wooden brakeshoe B5, whose upper surface extends beneath the lower surface of the cup-shaped portion. 'of sleeve a, as shown in Fig. I. This shoe is caused to bear upon such sleeve-surface with varying degrees of intensity, as will hereinafter be explained- Each oscillatory arm is formed with an upwardly-projecting portion b", formed with' a concave recess lf and a groove b, which latter intersects the cavity formed by the hollow arm B2. A detached member B3 of a conformation similar to that of the portion b is provided with a recess b and roove bm, similar to those of said portion, t le two recesses forming anv interior cavity and the two grooves a duct communicating with the interior of arms B. The extreme upper portion of the member B forms a hollow journal b, provided with a duct blz, open at its upper end, the extreme u per end of the journal being threaded, as sffown. In the interior of the cavit formed as described are located two shels b b, having opposite interlocking teeth bi, each shell being held against rotation on its axis by means of lugs b and b", respectively projecting into the described upper and lower ducts, as shown. A bolt b1 passes loosely throu h member Bs and portion b and has a late secured to one end, the o posite end eing threaded andV provided witfi a thumbnut b2, by means of which the two shells, portion b, and member B"i may be loosened, so as to permit the shells to disengage and the member B3 to turn upon the bolt b1". By these means the member B3 may be adjusted to assume various u right angular positions relatively to itsarrn `Upon the journal b11 is mounted a motor-frame C, which may be secured in various ositions in planes intersecting the plane o adjustment .of member .erence to the axis of osci B3 by means of a nut c, screwed upon the end of the journal. A suitable electric motor is mounted upon each such frame and inclosed in a suitable casing secured to the latter. The shafts C of these motors extend outwardly beyond the casings, and upon their ends are respectively secured ordinary fans C2. The axes of rotation of these fans-thatl is, the axes of rotation of the shafts-are preferabl caused to lie in a vertical plane passing` through the axis of journal-b, and such axis is preferably caused to lier in. a ertical plane passing through the axis of rotation of the bracket, as shown in the drawings, although such described relationship may be varied without departing from the spirit of my invention. Theprincipal condition necessary to consider in the construction of the class of these devices which are designed to project a current of air in a horizontal direction or in directions inclined thereto are those required to effect an adjustment of the fanaxis so as to impart to it varous positions in a horizontal plane and various positions in a vertical plane or, generally speaking, various positions in two intersecting planes. The construction of the motors is immaterial to the present invention. The wires connecting the positive and negative brushes of each motor are led from the interior of the motorcase, down through the duct b, between the two shells b and b, through the duct formed by the rooves bs and blo, and into the interior o the corres onding arm B', from whence they ass an are connected as hereinafter descri ed. The member B3 of each oscillatory arm is preferablv f located with refllation thereof so that the axis of journal b when vertical will intersect the sald axis of oscillation, and it willtherefore be seen that under such conditions when the members Bf are inclined out ward] 1 the center of gravity of the mass su porte by each such member B will fall wit out its axis of oscillation and each oscillatory arm B2 will be tilted so as to cause the brakeshoe connected therewith to automatically exert a pressure against the under surface of the sleeve a. Such pressure will be augmented during the rotation of the bracket and connected parts by the centrifugal force of the mass mounted upon the members B and will hence be directly proportional to the velocity of rotation. In order to regulate and control such pressure independent-l)- of the sole action ofthe centrifugal force and weight of relevant arts, so as to vary the intensity of the friction or a given amount of rotating force exerted upon the bracket, two springs D D are mounte in barrels b21 b'", formed in and secured to the bracket, one such spring being located above and exerting pressure upon each oscillatory arm B2, so as to oppose the action of the weight of the parts and centrifugal force tending to cause the brake-shoe to press upon IOO siegte its braking-surface. By means of a plunger d and screw d such counteracting pressure may be varied to suit varying requirements of speed of rotation of the bracket and connected parte. Assuming 'now that a conetant force be applied for rotating the li'freclrVar ets end connected parts, it will he seen tirate a certain'constant s eed of rotation may be attained and that,i desired, suchs eed may be varied by adjusting the screws Without varying the amount of rotatory force. A current of electricity is supplied to the nio-A tors, so as to rotateeach upon'its axis at a substantially constant speed. Such conetant rotation will hence produce a substantially constant force acting u on or tending to act upon the parts of the a ove-described structure with a result depending upon the adjusted relationship of parts/such force hein created by the reactionary eiieots oi the vo urne of air proiected b the fan-blades. As illustrated, the fan-bla es have an inclination such as to requires direction of rotar tion indicated by arrows in Figs. Il and VIH.

`It will therefore be seen that the motors and fans may revolve about an axis of revolution j which is coincident with the axis of rotation 'of the bracket. I shall now describe various adjusted relationships of the fan relatively to their Aaxes of revolution and the resultant effect. Throughout the following description I shall assume .that the springs D are set so as to exert a given pressure and remain un l eguilibrium will be produced and no rotation gravity of its outer surface.

yss

thebracket result. Now let it be assumed that the 'axes o l fan rotation intersect the axis of revolution and that the axes of rotation both incline downwardl from a horizontal piane-'-that is, do not all in the saine straight Ene-as` shown in Figs, I and H. Let it slsoche assiinied that'the entire reactionaryrforce exertedbythe arm upon each fan `b ade be concentrated at the center of Referring to but one fan, as indicated b the parallelograrn of forces, Fi H, the resu tant reactionary force upon eac ian-blade may hence be resolved into two components, one tangent to the circle Whose circumference contains nthe center of gravity and whose center-'lies in the axis of rotation of the bracket and the other of which is perpendicular thereto and arallel with the axis of rotation of the fan, w 'ch shall term the radial com orient. VAs stated, these com onents and t eir relationship are shown in t e parallelogram of forces: indicated in Fig'. II. The radial components exert equal YFor convenience l shall designate those component forces or resultant forces or moments which revolve or tend to revolve the structure about the axis of rod A in the direction of the hands ol' a clock when viewed in plan positive forces and those of op osito action vnegative The tangential] components of force acting upon the blades whose center lines lie above the plane X Y, Fig. I, containing the axis of fan rotation and perendicular to plane X Y tend to rotate the bracket in the direction of thc arrow l, Fig. H, and are hence positive. Those tangential components Yacting upon blades whose center lines are below such plane tendto produce rotation of the bracket in the opposite direction, as indicated by arrow 2 in seid figure, and are hence Vne etive. Such tendency ofthe force of each b ade is directly pro ortional to the amount of force obtainc by multiplyin the force hy the perpendicular distance o? each center of gravity of each outer blade-surface vfrom the axis of revo'- lution oi the fans and motors-fi. e., the brackets eo'risof rotation. The forces u on the different blades `being equal to each ot er, it will hence be seen that the moments will. be proportional to the said distances. These distancesar'e obviously greater in the upper snshlsd'es than in the lower, and Vhence the moments of force involving the positive will predominate, and the reso. tant moment will eiieet the revolution in the direction of the arrow 3, the amount of such rnoinent being equal to the algebraic sum of all the nio- Inents acting to eiiect revolution, the ultireste result, as will he seen, being positive. Assumin l the length of the arrow l to be proc portions to the coinhined positive moments acting in the direction indicated and which is the resultant direction oi revolution and the t is, however, of sniall value, since the value of the tangentiai components varies from zero when the center Ylines of the blades are in a horizontal Yinnato Va maximum when the saidY center 'nes are in a vertical plane. ln addition; however, from this comparatively Weak moment must be subtracted the resultant moment of force involving the blades Whose center lines fall below plane X Y. It

TOO

lI2C) `il therefore be seen that in order to utilize wtangential component for effecting rcvounion of the structure at a required speed iunitations in the construction are involved in so far as pertains to weight of parts and delicacy of mounting upon the bearings. llowever,A these limitations are reduced to a minimum by utilizing the double symmetrical yconstruction illustrated so as to obtain a perfect balance of revolving parts.

.As has been previously pointed out, the vradial icomponents of reactionary force upon the fari-blades in the above-described ar- Arangement exert no effect in so far as pertains te the rotation of the bracket, and it will be observed that when the axis of rotation of the fan not onlv intersects the axis of revolution, but is also perpendicular thereto, all the forces and cou les resolve themselves into a state of equili rium and no revolution results. It hence follows that in a construe tion designed to hang or stand in a erpendicular position, so as to cause the liracket to rotate in horizontal planes, the axes of fan rotation must always be inclined to such plane and the resulting air-current must ave an upward or a downward trend. Furthermore, the inclination must be sufficient to produce a `resultant moment of force which will overcome the inertia of all the revolving parts. In order to avoid such limitations, I have provided the beforedescribed features of adjustment whereby the motors may be ad'usted in a second plane intersecting lane Y, so as to permit the axis of revo ution of the fans and motors to fall without the plane indicated by line XzX, Fig. VIII, parallel therewith and which con tai'ns the axis of fan rotation, and thereby, as will he ex lained, permits the radial components of t e reactionary forces to become operative. Assumin that such adjustment is effected in each an-shaft and the axes of rotation are inclined downwardl T, their vertical planes parallel with each ot er and do not ,intersect the' axis of revolution, as shown in Fig. VIII, as before, the tangential components act positively and negatively and eicct a small resultant positive moment which tends to rotate the bracket in the direction indicated by arrow 8, Fig. VIII, in the manner previously described in con nection with lig. II. The radial compo nents, however, also act and produce a moment equal to the sum of the radial components multiplied by the perpendicular distance from the axis of revolutlon to the projected line indicating the direction of such radial components, as indicated by lines X2 X and Xi X, Fig. VIII. These moments vary from a positive minimum to a negative maximum; but a majority of the moments involving the radial components are negative, so that their resultant moment is negative-that is, produces revolution in the direction opoosite that of the hands of a clock.- Thc ultimate resultant of both systems tend# ing to produce revolution, however, is negative and is the algebraic sum of the moments involving the tangential as in Fi II and the moments involvin the radia components as in Fig. VIII. gThese resultante and their amounts are indicated by arrows 4, 5, 6, 7, and 8 in said Fig'. VIII. The effect of the moments involving the radial components may be augmented by changing the adjustment in the mechanism to effect a horizontal osition of the axes of rotation of the fans, t e axial lines in Fig. VIII serving toillustrate such `positions. In such case `the positive moments involving the tangential com onents will all be in equilibrium, and no vten ency to revolve will emanate from that source. By causing the axis of rotation to fall upon the sides of the axis of revolution op osite those u on which they are shown to fal as indicate by line W W', the resultant moment involving the radial components may be made ositive, and by changing the downward inc ination of the axes of rotation to an upward inclination the resultant moment involving the tangential components may be made negative. It will therefore be seen that the ad'ustment of the axis of rotation may be ma e such as to effect revolution of varying degrees of velocity in either direction while they are inclined or horizontal. A suitable switch and connections are pro vided for controlling the fiow of current to the motors andlamps.

Upon the lower end portion of rod A are secured two metallic slip-rings c5 a5, which receive the contact of two brushes or springterminals B4 B, suitably mounted upon the interior of the bracket. Each such ring is suitably connected, preferably by brazing, with a main for supplying current, and one terminal B4 is connected with each of the positive terminals of the two motors and the other with each of the negative terminals thereof. The specific connections used in the combination illuminating and fan fixture illustrated are shown in diagram in Figs. IX and X. -A three-terminal switch A is provided with a rotatable contact-segment a, capable of contacting the three terminals simultaneously or connecting any two'. One terminal of the main is connected with one of such switch-terminals, the other with one of said slip-rings. A second terminal is connected with the other slip-ring, and the third is 'connected with such other slip-ring, as shown, by means of a shunt-circuit containing the lamps in parallel. When the se ment is contacting all three terminals, Fig. X, it l will be seen that current is supplied to both lamps and motors. When contacting the two terminals, as shown in dotted lines in said figure, current is supplied to the lamps only, and when contacting as shown in doti IOO ted lines, Fig. X, the motors only are supplied. To turn ofi' the current from both mo tors and lamps, the position of the segment shown in full lines in said last-named figure is employed, The supportingrod A is preferably made hollow, so as to permit the main wires to be led down upon its inside to the interior of the bracket, from whence they may beled and connected as required.

As previously mentioned, Fi s. XI and XH illustrate a modified form of' 'an employing the above-described main principles of operation, which is designed to be placed upon a desk, column, or table and capable of a change of position. In this form a hollow standard E is provided at its upper portion with a ball-race e, which contains balls e', upon which rests a rotatable cone f. This cone is fixed to a vertical hollow shaft F, to the top of which is secured the motor G and casing therefor. Such securing is eil1 ected by means of a universal 'joint F, by means' of which the various adjustments described in connection with the first-described structure are obtained.

formed by the balls, racc, and cone. YThe lower end of the shaft is provided with a frict greater than the diameter of the collar he centrifugal force of the motor' and o Vier parts connected with the u per endfoftli shaft causes theK lower end o Vtifieesris to os-V cillate' and to describea circular path during the revolution of the fan. Such action causes the collar to. bear against the ring and eieetf a brako action proportional to the velocity of revo ution ina manner similar to that described in the double construction. U on the extreme lower shaft end is secured as ipV ring fg, which receives the contact oftwo spring-terminals, by means of which external wires h and internal Wires h', passin through' the shaft ,may be connected to supp y current to the motor.

Other modes of a plying the, rinciple of my invention may e ern loye instead of the one explained, change eing made as re-` garde the mechanism herein disclosed, pro-y vided the means stated by any one of the following claims or the equivalent of such stated means' be employed.

I therefore particularly point out and distinctl claim as my invention- 1. he combination of a rotatory fan', a ro. tatory support therefor, and means arranged to automatically exert apositive frictional braking action upon Vsaid support directly r proportional to the velocity o Y 2. The combination of a rotatory fan, a rorevolution.

tatory support therefor, and means controlled by the centrifugal force of its parts arranged to Yexert a braking action upon said support.

In this case the axis of revolu'-Y ttion ofthe fan is the axis of the ball-bearing` l having two arms sngul arly related to the su i 3. The combination of a rotatory support having two arms angolari y related to the supports axis of rotation, a rotatory fan and motor mounted upon each suc'li arm, each of the latter including an oscillatory member, and braking means actuated by said oscillatory member, the oscillation of said latter ineinber being controlled bythe centrifugal force ol the rotatingP parts.

4. The combination of a rotatory su port, a member pivotally mounted upon suoli sup-' port and having a plane of oscillation intersecting the lane of rotation of such support, a rotatory an mounted upon such member, and a brake for controllin the rotation of 30 said support and controlled y said pivotally- 'mounted member. 5. The combination of a rotatory support,

arnember pivotally mounted upon 'suc support` having a-plane of oscillation intersecting the plane of rotation of such support, a rotatory ian and motor therefor mounted upon said member, and a brake for controlling the rotation of said support, and controlled by 'said pivotally-mounted member.

6. The combination of a rotatory support having two arms angul arly related to the supports axis of rotation, arotatory fen mounted upon' each such arm and arranged to effect the snppo'rts rotation, .and means for exerting a braking action upon such rotating support, such means arran ed so as to be capa- -Yl-e of movement tower-cl and from the axis of rotation'o said support.

7. The combination of a rotatable support having two arms angularly related to'the su port'sV axis of rotation, each such arm inclu lng an oscillatory member, a fan mounted u Y on each of said latter, xmeans for effecting t c sup orts rotation, and braking means 165 actuate by said oscillatory member, the o eration of the latter being controlled by t e centrifugal force of therotating parts.

8. The combination of a rotatable support r fr o ports airis of rotation, each suoli arm inclu ing an oscillatory member, a fan and a motor therefor; mounted upon each of said latter .and arranged to eflect the rotation of said sup ort, and braking means actuated by said I I5 osci latory members, the operation of the latter being controlled by the centrifugal force of ,the rotating parts.

9. The combination of a rotatable support, a fan mounted thereon and arranged to iIn'-. art 'arotating movement thereto, a fixed iction member and means controlled by the rotating parts' bearing uponi such friction member.

1o. The combination of a rotatable support, a fan mounted thereon and arranged to impart a rotating movement thereto, s. xed friction member and an oscillatory arm mounted upon said sup ort arranged to bear upon said lotion memllcrand controlled 1n 13 bra ing means for controlling the speed of ro tation of the latter, and a spring arranged to counteract the 'said braking action.

1B. The combination of a rotatable member, means for effecting the rotation of said member,`means for-effecting a braking action upon said member, and a spring arranged to counteract said braking actlon.

14. The combination of a rotatable member, means for effecting a braking action upon said'- member, a spring arranged to counteract said braking action, and means for varying the intensity of action of such spring.

15. The combination of a rotatable support, means foreffecting its rotation, means or effecting a braking action upon said member and controlled by the centrifugal force of the rotatin parts, 'and means for varying the intensity o such braking action for a given amount of power' exerted by said rotating means.

16. The combination of a rotatable member, a rotatory fan mounted thereon and arranged to effect its rotation, means for effecting a braking action upon said member controlled by the centrifu al force of the rotating parts, and means ortvarying the intensity of such action for .a given amount of power exerted by said fan.

' 17. The combination of a rotatable member, a rotatory fan mounted thereon and arranged to effect its rotation, means for effecting a braking actionV upon said members controlled by the centrifugal force of the rotating parts, and an adjustable spring arranged to counteract such centrifugal force.

18, The combination of a rotatable member, an oscillatory arm upon said member, a rotatory fan mounted upon said arm and arranged to rotate said member, revolving parts arranged to actuate said arm by their centrifugal force, and a spring arranged to counteract such force.

19. The combination of a rotatable member, having two arms angularly related to its axis of rotation, and each provided with an oscillatory arxn arranged to be actuated by the centrifugal force of revolving parts', a rotatory fan mounted upon each such oscillatory arm, and a spring for counteracting the centrifugal force acting upon each such oscillatory arm,

20. The combination of a support, a rotatable arm mounted upon said sup ort, a fanmotor mounted upon said arm, e ectric illuminating means carried by said su ort, conductors connecting said motor an 1 luminating means with a common source of current, and a switch in the circuit, said conductors and switch being arranged to cut in or cut out from the circuit either said motor or illuminatin means or both.

21. Tlgie combination of a depending su port, a rotatable bracket mounted upon t e ower part of said support, a fan-motor mounted upon said arm, electric illuminatin means carried by said support and mount below said bracket, conductors connecting said motor and illuminating means with a common source of current, and a 'switch located at the lower end of said support, said conductors and switch being arranged to cut in or cut out from the circuit said motor or illuminating means or both. i

Signed by me this 17th day of June, 1903.

BERNARD A. STOWE.

Attest: i

G. W. SAYWELL, A. E. MERKEL. 

